Review: The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The War of Two Queens by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Blood and Ash #4

Publication date: March 15th, 2022

Pages: 664

Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️

Synopsis:

From the desperation of golden crowns...

Casteel Da'Neer knows all too well that very few are as cunning or vicious as the Blood Queen, but no one, not even him, could've prepared for the staggering revelations. The magnitude of what the Blood Queen has done is almost unthinkable.

And born of mortal flesh...

Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for. With the strength of the Primal of Life's guards behind her, and the support of the wolven, Poppy must convince the Atlantian generals to make war her way--because there can be no retreat this time. Not if she has any hope of building a future where both kingdoms can reside in peace.

A great primal power rises...

Together, Poppy and Casteel must embrace traditions old and new to safeguard those they hold dear--to protect those who cannot defend themselves. But war is only the beginning. Ancient primal powers have already stirred, revealing the horror of what began eons ago. To end what the Blood Queen has begun, Poppy might have to become what she has been prophesied to be--what she fears the most.

As the Harbinger of Death and Destruction.

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Story:

I had been waiting to see the culmination of Poppy's powers and who she turned out to be but I was expecting it to come in a later book. Granted, you can't put off that much action for long. Readers will revolt or lose interest. But the finale of this book was everything I had hoped it to be and even more. The only drawback is that you get that feeling of relief that things may start to look up for the main characters and their cast of loyal followers, only to be shown that there is an even greater evil that will have to be contended with. I think Armentrout did a fine job of laying out the story. She knew when to pause for dramatic effect and when to barrel down the runway at 100 mph to push her characters to their breaking point. If Poppy and Casteel were real people I would feel terrible for them with how often they think they are finally getting room to catch their breath before they're thrown something else to contend with. The flow of the story was as good as it always is with this particular author and I found myself thoroughly wrapped up in the world to the point of almost not being able to continue onto any further books without feeling like I was missing out on characters who have found a special place in my heart.

Characters:

• Poppy - How this woman manages to take everything in her life in stride is beyond me. She loses her husband, she fights small battles until she can reach him. She is giving impossible choices, she will sacrifice herself every single time for the ones she cares about. She is told difficult truths about who she is and who contributed to her bloodline, she straightens her shoulders and lifts her chin in stubborn resolve. Poppy is one of those characters that has this quiet strength that one idolizes. Who can take that much pain and persecution and find a way to love her people regardless? In the end, you really feel what is in her heart and it is a beautiful thing. I don't think there is much of anything that would turn me away from her as a character. That's not a challenge, Jennifer L. Armentrout!

• Casteel - I love how deeply Casteel loves Poppy. There is nothing she can do wrong in his eyes. He can be told that she will bring about the end of the world and he will only defiantly shake his head and go 'nu uh!' Although the man really needs to get himself together and stop sacrificing himself all the time. Instead of treating Poppy like she can't handle herself, empower her by letting her stand on her own two feet! She is a badass who can take out damn near anything she wishes to. Let her do that. Be her counsel, not her damsel in distress she has to save all the time. Albeit he's a handsome damsel so maybe he gets a little bit of a pass.

• Kieran - I felt he needed to be added into the character pool because in this book he becomes a much larger part in the entire dynamic. Kieran has always been one of my favorite characters of all. He is comedic, charming, protective, and strong. If the situation was presented where I had to choose between him or Casteel as my favorite, Casteel may lose. The way he banters with Poppy is such an amazing delight to read when it occurs. The fact that you can feel how much he cares for her even if its questionable whether its romantic or platonic most of the time. Kieran is a gem.

Writing:

I touched on this a little but Armentrout's style of writing makes me envious. I wish I could write half as well as she can. She knows just when to add some drama, some intrigue, some action, or wonder. She walks the tightrope of poetic prose and balmy smut that leaves her readers wondering how to feel from one moment to the next. Her characters are fleshed out and raw with all the pitfalls of normal human beings with a fantastical edge. I have never read such an author with such a well developed cadence in their writing.

Overall:

Another amazing installment in a series I am growing increasingly obsessed with. Every new book I read in this series, every time I rejoin Poppy and Casteel's world, and every time I look at the beautiful books aligning my bookshelves, I kick myself for how long it took me to venture into reading the series. I cannot wait to read the next even if slightly frustrated that Poppy has a new baddie she has to track down and destroy. Poor girl never gets a break.